Introduction

In Louisiana, renewing your license plates is the same as renewing your registration. Louisiana residents are required to renew their plates/registration every 2 years with the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (LA OMV).

First Time Registering in LA?

If you just moved to the state, or just bought a vehicle, you'll need to complete an initial registration. Please visit our vehicle registration page to see how to get your vehicle registered.

Louisiana Registration Renewal Notice

Vehicles registered in LA must be renewed every 2 years. Within several weeks of your license plate’s expiration date, you should receive a renewal notice from the OMV. The OMV renewal notice contains:

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

License plate number.

Vehicle expiration date.

Renewal fee.

Renewal ID number.

Didn’t Get a Renewal Notice?

You are still responsible for renewing your registration by the expiration date, even if you did not receive your renewal notice. The OMV does not reissue notices.

If you did not receive a notice from the OMV, you can only renew your registration in person. Make sure your name and address are correct in the OMV system.

Renewing Your LA Registration

You can renew your Louisiana registration in person, online, or by mail. Your very first registration renewal requires you to present your license or photo I.D. While this requirement isn’t specified by the state of Louisiana for subsequent renewals, you should always bring a photo I.D. to the OMV for any transaction.

Renew in Person

To renew your Louisiana plates and registration in person, go to your local OMV office and:

Have a valid inspection sticker. You must get safety and emissions checks completed if your inspection sticker is expired.

Pay your renewal fee (cash, check, or money order).

You will be given a new license plate sticker and registration certificate before you leave. The registration certificate must be kept with the vehicle at all times in plain view, or be easily accessible for inspection by government officials.

Renew Online

In order to renew online, you must have received a vehicle renewal notice in the mail that has your renewal identification number that you will need to enter.

Mail your renewal notice and payment to the address provided on your notice, or to:

Office of Motor Vehicles

P.O. Box 64886

Baton Rouge, LA 70896

Make sure you renew well before your registration expires, as it may take a few weeks for you to receive your new materials.

Louisiana Registration/License Plate Renewal Fees

LA registration renewal fees are based on the purchase price of your vehicle. You will be charged .1% annually on the value of the vehicle with a minimum vehicle value of $10,000. The minimum registration/license plate fee you will pay is $20. These fees are paid every 2 years, which means the annual .1% fee is doubled when you pay for 2 years.

Fees for other vehicles include:

Light trucks (up to 6000 lbs.): $40 every 4 years.

Motorcycles: $12 every 4 years.

Commercial vehicles: $10 annually.

Motor homes: $50 every 2 years.

These fees are some of the most common, and are not a complete list. The renewal notice you receive from the OMV will list the fees you owe. The fees may also include local county fees depending on where your vehicle is registered.

You can also contact your local OMV office or the OMV help desk at (225) 925-6146 to request information on specific vehicles.

Late Fees and Penalties

The OMV does not offer a grace period. If your registration has expired, you will have to pay a late fee at the time of your renewal based on a percentage of your renewal fee.

LA Registration Renewal for Military

Louisiana residents serving in the military who are stationed out of state must comply with all registration renewal requirements while they are out of the state.

Reinstatement fees will not be charged to members of the military whose insurance or registration lapsed due to service overseas. You will be required to show documentation of military service.

Non-resident members of the military, or their spouses, who are stationed in Louisiana must maintain valid registration, insurance, and driver’s license in their home state.

Louisiana Liability Insurance Requirements

Liability insurance is required in Louisiana. There are serious penalties for not having insurance, and you cannot renew your LA plates if your vehicle lacks coverage. For details on insurance requirements, policies, and coverage, please visit our Louisiana Insurance page.

LA Smog and Emissions Testing

Louisiana requires regular safety and emissions testing. You must display an inspection sticker on your vehicle showing that you are in compliance. If your inspection sticker is expired, you will not be allowed to renew your registration/plates.

Statement of Non-Use

If you do not plan to renew the registration of your vehicle, and you will not be driving or parking it on public roads for an extended period of time, you must go online to complete a Statement of Non-Use, or request one from your local OMV office.

You’ll need to fill out the following information:

Your name and address.

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

Vehicle make and model year.

Your signature and date.

You must complete this process before you cancel your liability insurance policy.

Replacement Certificates, Stickers, and License Plates

Paying your OMV renewal fees is not all you need to do to ensure your vehicle is legally registered in the state. You must also make sure that you have your Louisiana plates, registration certificate, and plate decals at all times. If any of those items become lost or damaged, you need to get duplicates through the OMV as soon as possible.